Today the horror community celebrates the 45th anniversary of Suspiria’s release! The “Master of Thrill”, Dario Argento, graced Italian audiences with this masterful synthesis of sight and sound for the first time in 1977. The first installment in the “The Three Mothers” Series, the sequels that complete the trilogy also follow a conspiracy of witches trying to manipulate and torture others. It’s hard to forget the wonderful performance of Jessica Harper as Suzy Bannion, an American transplant in Germany who begins attending the Tanz Dance Akademie and soon running afoul of the sinister ongoings at the ballet school. It’s even harder to forget all the gruesome and memorable kills, as well as some truly grotesque visuals.
While at the time the film was met with middling reviews from many critics, over the year’s its brilliant cinematography and bloody plot (as well as a killer soundtrack from prog-rock band Goblin) has gained an incredible cult following with its widespread publication and word of mouth carrying its reputation. If you need a watch tonight, tune into this and learn to never look at stained glass skylights the same way again.